[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 132 (Monday, July 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40685-40686]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17274]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. chapter 35).
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Center for Economic Studies Research Proposal and Project 
Management System.
    OMB Control Number: None.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Type of Request: New collection.
    Burden Hours: 3,780.
    Number of Respondents: 60.
    Average Hours per Response: 63.
    Needs and Uses: The U.S. Census Bureau through its network of 
Census Research Data Centers (RDCs) supports and encourages research 
activity using Census Bureau microdata to improve Census Bureau 
programs. The RDCs provide access to researchers, Federal agencies, and 
other institutions meeting the requirements of Title 13 United States 
Code, Section 23(c) to non-publicly available Census Bureau data files. 
The Center for Economic Studies operates the RDC system on behalf of 
the Census Bureau.
    The objective of the Center for Economic Studies (CES) and the 
Research Data Centers (RDCs) is to increase the utility and quality of 
Census Bureau data products. The external research program supported by 
CES and the RDCs increases the quality and utility of Census data in 
several ways. First, access to microdata encourages knowledgeable 
researchers to become familiar with Census data products and Census 
collection methods. More importantly, providing qualified researchers 
access to confidential microdata enables research projects that would 
not be possible without access to respondent-level information. This 
increases the value of data that has been collected. Access to the 
microdata also allows for data linking not possible with aggregates, 
both cross-survey linkages and longitudinal linkages. These linkages 
leverage the value of preexisting data. Creative use of microdata can 
address important policy questions without the need for additional data 
collections.
    The Census Bureau operates a network of RDCs at a dozen 
universities and research institutions across the country. These RDCs 
operate under joint project agreements with either a single institution 
or a consortium of institutions that provide space for researchers to 
access confidential Census Bureau data and other data provided by a 
variety of government and commercial sources under secure, controlled 
conditions that ensures compliance with Census Bureau data stewardship 
policies. The RDCs operate as an enterprise asset designed to 
facilitate external researcher access to confidential microdata and to 
foster collaboration between external and internal Census Bureau 
researchers.
    Access to confidential data at an RDC by either external or 
internal researchers requires preparation and submission of a research 
proposal to CES by an individual or team of researchers. The proposal 
submission, review and

[[Page 40686]]

approval process as well as project tracking is managed with an 
Internet based application called the CES Research Proposal and Project 
Management System (CMS). The CMS consists of several modules for 
accepting information, processing, storage, updating, and reporting.
    Individuals first create a user account on the CMS. A template 
appears which requests contact information from the respondent, 
including name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone, 
professional affiliation, and citizenship. Users may then create the 
various required proposal documents in CMS using the available 
templates.
    The vast majority of users are academic research faculty at major 
U.S. universities or other types of research institutions such as the 
Urban Institute, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Rand 
Corporation, Public Policy Institute of California, National Bureau of 
Economic Research, and Resources for the Future. Scientific research 
typically results in papers presented at scientific conferences and 
published in peer reviewed academic journals, working paper series, 
monographs, and technical reports. The scientific community at large 
benefits from the additions to knowledge resulting from research with 
Census Bureau microdata. Results inform both scientific theory and 
public policy.
    Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.
    Frequency: One time.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Section 23(c).
    OMB Desk Officer: Brian Harris-Kojetin, (202) 395-7314.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance 
Officer, (202) 482-0266, Department of Commerce, Room 6616, 14th and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at 
[email protected]).
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to Brian Harris-Kojetin, OMB Desk Officer either by fax (202-395-7245) 
or e-mail ([email protected]).

    Dated: July 6, 2011.
Glenna Mickelson,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-17274 Filed 7-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-07-P